Technology | SupplyChainBrain

Technology: Page 974

Critical Elements for Revamping Your Network

Analyst Insight: Supply chain complexity and turmoil is on the rise due to growing global markets, increasing customer expectations, rising costs and more intense competitive pressures. Progressive companies understand that supply chain performance has a significant impact on the bottom line and shareholder value, and they must reinvent their supply chain networks on a regular basis in order to remain competitive. However, the traditional way of designing supply chain networks with a focus on cost optimization is giving way to more progressive thinking. - John Spain, Executive Vice President, Tompkins International

Jan Feb2014 Cover Art 36

An Optimistic Skeptic's View of How to Plan a Network

Analyst Insight: Network planning suffers from an abundance of inappropriate technology, coupled with far too little pragmatic, common sense. Everyone is familiar with the optimization tools that are routinely applied; all are based on long-term shipment forecasts by SKU, by zip code or even finer measurement. Now wait a minute! We can't even forecast next month's demand; how in the world can we forecast demand detail five years in the future? The skills and skepticism of the millennials just may have the solution. - Robert Sabath, Principal Essentialist SCM, Trissential

Jan Feb2014 Cover Art 35

Why Optimize Inventory? Because That's Where the Money Is!

Analyst Insight: When asked why he robbed banks, Slick Willy answered, "Because that's where the money is!" Where's the money in your company? Capital for new projects is a real challenge, with an appropriation process that is complex, political and arduous, commanding the attention and scrutiny of the executive committee. Yet, planners and schedulers armed with custom spreadsheets routinely make million-dollar working capital decisions every day! - Rich Sherman, Principal Essentialist, Trissential

Jan Feb2014 Cover Art 34

The Future of Lean - and How You Can Benefit from the Right Strategy Implementation

Lean is one of the biggest management ideas of the past 50 years. No less than Ford's original assembly line, it has transformed how leading companies think about operations - starting in assembly plants and other factory settings and moving more recently into services ranging from retailing and health care to financial services, IT, and even the public sector. Yet despite lean's trajectory, broad influence, and level of general familiarity among senior executives, it would be a mistake to think that it has reached its full potential.

Quality Metrics 1

Cargo Theft in U.S. in 2013 Keeps Pace with Record Levels

FreightWatch International, a logistics security solutions provider, recorded 951 cargo thefts throughout the United States in 2013, the same amount as recorded in 2012, tying for the highest level of theft incidents on record.

Ocean Carrier Mega-Alliances: A Question Mark for Shippers

I'd like to propose a symbol for those huge new vessel-sharing alliances that will dominate the global container trades this year and beyond: a great big question mark.

Think Tank 83

Warehouse Execution System Delivers a Fresh Solution for Perishable Foods Manufacturer

Challenge: A leading perishable foods brand was experiencing high transportation costs, extended delivery times and loss of selling time, when shipping product lines from multiple manufacturing locations to a network of food distributors.

Seko Inks Joint Venture With Secans Global for Store Development

Seko Logistics has forged a new partnership with Secans Global, a vendor of services for global retail expansion.

Create a Road Map for Advanced Inventory Management

Analyst Insight: Inventory is the most visible dimension of supply chain performance. It is scrutinized on the balance sheet by the CFO and external analysts. However, inventory performance is more than a financial metric. Supply chain leaders who are charged to act as stewards for inventory performance must ensure sound planning and supply execution while collaborating to influence and align with demand and product managers. - Paul Lord, Research Director, Gartner Supply Chain

Jan Feb2014 Cover Art 33

Uncertainty in Industrial Manufacturing Brings Great Opportunity

Analyst Insight: Industrial manufacturing includes a broad range of sub-verticals. Given the current global uncertainties, these companies are focusing on manufacturing and supply chain excellence while trying to grow their top lines. This will not stop the leaders from looking at many exciting new technologies that are emerging. The "manufacturing renaissance" going on is as likely to be around new technologies adopted as around where the manufacturing takes place. - Robert Eastman, Senior Analyst, Technology Evaluation Centers

Jan Feb2014 Cover Art 32

Africa Import-Export Shipment Reliability Predicted to Deteriorate, Study Finds

Following nearly 2,000 incident updates in 16 months, Portoverview.com's Africa's editor, Victor Shieh told attendees at the recent Cool Logistics Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, that shipping on the continent is likely to get worse before it begins to see improvements.

Ocean Transport 2 10

Airfreight Markets See Strong Start to the New Year

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released January performance data showing a strong rise in airfreight growth compared to a year ago. Global freight tonne kilometers (FTKs) rose 4.5 percent in January compared to January 2013. This is a significant acceleration on the 2.2 percent year-on-year growth rate recorded in December, and is well above the 1.4 percent full-year growth reported for 2013 as compared to 2012.

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Photo: iStock/Anastasiia Yanishevska

How a Leading U.S. Floral Distribution Company Reduced Warehouse Labor Costs by 45% with RFID

Recycled Tagging Fasteners: Small Changes Make a Big Impact

Mobile geolocation service for track delivery, cargo shipment and freight transportation. Logistic Import Export business (Elements of this image furnished by NASA)

Enhancing High-Value Electronics Shipment Security with Tive's Real-Time Tracking

Franchise business e-commerce online e-marketplace or digital marketing branch expansion for growth or use technology to analyze product consumer data website management plan for sale service concept.

Moving Robots Site-to-Site